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John 2:1-12
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1:43The next day Jesus
decided to leave for
…
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1On the third day a wedding
took place at Cana in
2and Jesus and his disciples
had also been invited to the wedding.
3When the wine was gone,
Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4“Woman, why do you involve
me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5His mother said to the
servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6Nearby stood six stone water
jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from
twenty to thirty gallons.
7Jesus said to the servants,
“Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the
brim.
8Then he told them, “Now draw
some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so,
9and the master of the
banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize
where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then
he called the bridegroom aside
10and said, “Everyone brings
out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had
too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”
11What Jesus did here in Cana
of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and
his disciples believed in him.
12After this he went down to
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1)
Is verse 1:43
included in VisionCasting-John1.43-51?
o Yes.
2)
Why is verse 1:43
included here?
o It is included here to provide continuity of context.
3)
What is the point
of reference for the phrase ‘On the third day’ in verse 1 and why, given that it takes time to walk from
o The point of reference is Jesus’ leaving for
o Because
o It takes almost three days to walk from Judea to
o Getting to Cana in
4)
According to verses
1 and 2 who were at the wedding at Cana in
o Jesus’ mother was there.
o Jesus and his disciples had also been invited.
5)
In accordance
with verses 1 and 2 did Jesus and his mother
arrive at the wedding together or separately and why?
o Jesus and his mother arrived at the wedding separately.
o His mother was already there.
o When
o He arrived.
6)
In accordance
with verses 1 to 5 what role did Jesus’ mother play at the wedding?
o She was helping with ensuring that the wedding was
running smoothly.
o As
o We shall see.
7)
What does the
fact that Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding at Cana
in
o It indicates that they all lived in the local
community near Cana in
8)
How long did a
wedding banquet last in those days?
o It lasted for several days.
9)
According to
verse 3 did Jesus’ mother ask him to
solve the problem of having no more wine and why?
o No, because she only stated the problem.
10)
According to what
Jesus said in response in verse 4 did he think that his mother wanted him to
solve the problem and why?
o Yes, because Jesus questioned her.
o Why
o She involved him in the matter, presumably for solving
the problem.
11)
What would Jesus have
to do in order to solve the problem, which was
implicit in his mother’s intention in involving him?
o Jesus would have to perform a miracle to make wine
available.
12)
Why did Jesus’
mother refrain from telling him to perform a miracle to solve the problem?
o She did not want to
§
Put Jesus on the
spot.
§
And force him to perform
the miracle.
o On the other hand she was
putting him on the spot to see how he would respond.
o As
o It would become clear.
o When
o We delve further into the matter.
13)
According to what
Jesus said in response in verse 4 what reason did he offer for his questioning his mother’s involving him?
o Jesus stated that his
hour had not yet come.
14)
What did Jesus mean
that his hour had not yet come, given
verse 11?
o Jesus meant that the time for him to perform a miracle
had not yet come.
15)
What was Jesus keenly
aware of?
o Jesus was keenly aware of the timing of his ministry.
16)
Had Jesus’ mother
up to that point seen her son perform any miracles and why, given verse 11?
o No, because the miracle Jesus was going to perform at
the wedding would be the first one.
17)
What had Jesus’
mother heard from his disciples at the wedding about who they thought her son
is?
o They believed that her son is the Christ.
18)
What had Jesus’
mother heard from his disciples about the testimony John the Baptist gave about
his nature, given John 1:29-30?
o John testified to her son’s eternal nature.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 1:29-30 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
29The next day John saw Jesus
coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of
the world!
30This is the one I meant when
I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’
+++++++++++++++++++++
19)
Were Jesus’
mother and John the Baptist relatives and what did she know about his birth,
given Luke 1:36-38?
o Jesus’ mother and John the Baptist were relatives.
o Because
o She and John’s mother were relatives.
o She knew that John’s birth was miraculous.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud Luke 1:36-38 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
36Even Elizabeth your
relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be
unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
37For no word from God will
ever fail.”
38“I am the Lord’s servant,”
Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
+++++++++++++++++++++
20)
What did Jesus’
mother know John to be?
o She knew John to be a prophet.
21)
Why did Jesus’
mother think that her son was capable of performing
miracles, given her own experience with his birth and what she had heard his disciples
say that John said about him?
o Her son’s birth was itself miraculous.
o His disciples told her that he is the Christ.
o And her relative John
§
Whose birth was
also miraculous.
§
And who was
himself a prophet.
o Testified to her son’s eternal nature.
22)
What conflict did
Jesus find himself in, given his conversation with his mother and John 6:38?
o Jesus’ mother wanted him to perform a miracle at a
time that was ahead of the timing of his Father in heaven.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 6:38 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
38For I have come down from
heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
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23)
Why was the name of
Jesus’ mother not mentioned by the writer of the gospel account?
o It was intended to emphasize the earthly relationship
between Jesus and Mary on that particular occasion.
24)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 4 how did he address his mother?
o Jesus addressed his mother as ‘woman’.
25)
Why did Jesus
address his mother as ‘woman’, given the conflict he found himself in?
o It was intended to distance himself from the earthly
relationship between him and Mary.
o Because
o He would be running ahead of his Father in heaven.
o If
o He performed the miracle just for the sake of
complying with his mother’s wish.
26)
Was Jesus addressing
his mother in a derogatory way on that occasion and why, given John 19:25-27?
o No, because Jesus also addressed his mother as ‘woman’.
o When
o He entrusted his mother to the care of the apostle John
before his imminent death.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 19:25-27 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
25Near the cross of Jesus
stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene.
26When Jesus saw his mother
there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,
here is your son,”
27and to the disciple, “Here
is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.
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27)
In accordance
with what Jesus said in his reply to his mother in verse 4 was he rejecting her
request or was he attempting to talk her out of her request and why?
o Jesus was attempting to talk her out of her request.
o Because
o With the reason he offered he was waiting for her
agreement to back down.
28)
According to
verse 5 did Jesus’ mother agree to back down for the reason he offered and why?
o No, because she
§
Told the servants
to do whatever Jesus told them.
§
And was expecting
him to perform the miracle.
29)
Would Jesus’
mother have insisted on his performing the miracle if he had given her a
resounding ‘No’?
o No.
30)
Did the response
from Jesus’ mother leave him with any alternative not to perform the miracle?
o No.
31)
What were the
servants doing before Jesus’ mother told them to do whatever he told them?
o They were serving food and wine at the banquet.
o Suddenly they realized that they just ran out of wine.
o So they immediately reported the situation to Jesus’
mother who was helping with ensuring that the wedding was running smoothly.
32)
What was the
immediate reaction of the servants when they realized that they just ran out of
wine and why?
o They were alarmed.
o Because
o It was a very bad thing to
run out of wine at a wedding banquet.
o And they were the servers.
33)
What might be the
relationship between Jesus’ family and the bridegroom’s family, judging from
his mother’s resolve that he had to solve the problem?
o They might be relatives.
34)
What kind of relatives,
given John 19:25?
o Jesus’ mother and the bridegroom’s mother might be sisters.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 19:25 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
25Near the cross of Jesus
stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary
Magdalene.
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35)
What did Jesus’
mother try to do for the bridegroom, given the long-lasting social
embarrassment to him for running out of wine at his wedding banquet and her responsibility for the wedding?
o She wanted to save him from the long-lasting social
embarrassment.
36)
What effect had the
long-running suspended reality about her son had on Jesus’ mother, given Luke
1:30-35, Luke 2:8-19, Luke 2:25-35, Luke 2:43-51?
o The long-running suspended reality about her son had
been a burden weighing on her for over thirty years.
·
The facilitator
asks a specific participant to read out loud Luke 1:30-35 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
30But the angel said to her,
“Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
31You will conceive and give
birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
32He will be great and will
be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will
give him the throne of his father David,
33and he will reign over
Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
34“How will this be,” Mary
asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?”
35The angel answered, “The
Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will
be called the Son of God.
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·
The facilitator
asks a specific participant to read out loud Luke 2:8-19 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
8And there were shepherds
living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.
9An angel of the Lord
appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were
terrified.
10But the angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the
people.
11Today in the town of
12This will be a sign to you:
You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
13Suddenly a great company of
the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God
and saying,
14“Glory to God in the
highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
15When the angels had left
them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to
16So they hurried off and
found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.
17When they had seen him,
they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,
18and all who heard it were
amazed at what the shepherds said to them.
19But Mary treasured up all
these things and pondered them in her heart.
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·
The facilitator
asks a specific participant to read out loud Luke 2:25-35 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
25Now there was a man in
26It had been revealed to him
by the Holy Spirit that he would not die before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah.
27Moved by the Spirit, he
went into the temple courts. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do
for him what the custom of the Law required,
28Simeon took him in his arms
and praised God, saying:
29“Sovereign Lord, as you
have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
30For my eyes have seen your
salvation,
31which you have prepared in
the sight of all nations:
32a light for revelation to
the Gentiles, and the glory of your people
33The child’s father and
mother marveled at what was said about him.
34Then Simeon blessed them
and said to Mary, his mother: “This child is destined to cause the falling and
rising of many in
35so that the thoughts of
many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too.”
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·
The facilitator
asks a specific participant to read out loud Luke 2:43-51 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
43After the festival was
over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in
44Thinking he was in their
company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among
their relatives and friends.
45When they did not find him, they went back to
46After three days they found
him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
47Everyone who heard him was
amazed at his understanding and his answers.
48When his parents saw him,
they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us
like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”
49“Why were you searching for
me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s
house?”
50But they did not understand
what he was saying to them.
51Then he went down to
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37)
What did Jesus’ starting
to have disciples who claimed that he is the Christ following him around say
about how he regarded all those things that had been said about him?
o It was Jesus’ implicit acknowledgment.
o That
o All those things were about to be fulfilled.
38)
Why was the
reason Jesus offered that his hour had not yet come insufficient to convince his
mother to back down?
o She had waited patiently for over thirty years.
o She could not wait any longer.
o Now that
o The cat had come out of the bag.
39)
What did Jesus’
mother think her son needed to be accountable to her for?
o He needed to be accountable to her for the suspended
reality about himself.
40)
What would help
settle the matter in the current situation from the perspective of Jesus’
mother?
o Insisting on a miracle from her son would help settle
the matter.
41)
Could anyone
blame Jesus’ mother for her impatience and why?
o No, she could not wait any longer.
o As
o Nobody in her situation could.
42)
According to
verse 6 what were the six stone water jars nearby used for?
o They were used by the Jews for ceremonial washing.
43)
According to
verse 6 what was the capacity of each stone water jar?
o Each held from twenty to thirty gallons.
44)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 7 what were the servants
to do?
o They were to fill the stone water jars with water.
45)
According to
verse 7 to what extent did the servants fill
the stone water jars?
o They filled them to the brim.
46)
How seriously engaged
were the servants in what they were doing
and why?
o Very, because they filled the stone water jars to the
brim with expectation.
o They might be very short on
wine with a number of days still remaining for the banquet.
47)
According to what
Jesus said in verse 8 what were the servants
to do with the water in the stone water jars?
o They were to
§
Draw some out.
§
And take it to
the master of the banquet.
48)
According to
verse 9 what did the master of the
banquet know about the origin of the water that had been turned into wine after
tasting it?
o He did not realize where it had come from.
49)
According to
verses 7 to 9 who were the witnesses of where
the wine had come from?
o The servants who had drawn the water were.
50)
Who were the
first to confirm that the water had been turned into wine and why?
o The servants who had drawn the water were.
o Because
o They just couldn’t resist dipping
their fingers in the water that had been turned into wine.
51)
In accordance
with verse 9 who made sure that the food and wine were good for serving to the
guests before they were served?
o The master of the banquet did.
52)
According to
verse 10 what did the master of the
banquet tell the bridegroom was the proper etiquette for serving wine?
o Everyone
§
Brings out the
choice wine first.
§
And then the
cheaper wine.
o After
o The guests have had too much to drink.
53)
According to
verse 10 what did the master of the
banquet say the bridegroom had chosen to do instead?
o The bridegroom had saved the best wine till that point.
54)
In accordance
with verse 10 what role did the master of
the banquet play in managing the supply of wine?
o The master of the banquet did not seem to play any
role.
55)
How might the
master of the banquet be appointed in those days, which seems to be the case in
the current situation?
o The master of the banquet might be appointed from
among the guests.
56)
Who ultimately
bore the responsibility for not securing an adequate supply of wine?
o The bridegroom did.
57)
What was the mild
rebuke of the master of the banquet for the bridegroom?
o The bridegroom had mishandled wedding banquet
etiquette for serving wine.
58)
What would have
been the consequence for the bridegroom, had Jesus not turned the water into wine?
o The bridegroom would have become a laughing
stock in the community for a long time to come.
59)
How had the
problem of the bridegroom been transformed with the sudden availability of the
best wine?
o It had turned
§
From being a
major disaster.
§
To being a minor
mishandling of wedding banquet etiquette.
60)
What is the only miracle
recorded in the bible that Jesus performed and that
the beneficiary of the miracle was not aware of?
o The current miracle is the only one.
61)
Was it a good
thing that the bridegroom was not aware of the miracle, at least not during the
wedding, and why?
o Yes, it was.
o Otherwise it would have ruined his sense of
§
Joy.
§
And blissfulness.
o During the wedding.
62)
Was it a good
thing that the guests were not aware of the miracle and why?
o Yes, it was.
o Otherwise the spotlight would have been taken off of
§
The bride.
§
And the
bridegroom.
o Who were supposed to be the central figures at the wedding.
63)
According to
verse 11 what is the significance of the miracle of water being turned into
wine that Jesus performed in Cana of Galilee?
o It was the first of the signs.
o Through which
o Jesus revealed his glory.
o And his disciples
believed in him.
64)
Who else had come
to believe in Jesus and why, given verses 7 to 9?
o The servants who filled the six stone water jars to
the brim had.
o Because
o They were seriously engaged in the miracle Jesus was
going to perform with expectation.
65)
What is a sign?
o A sign is a miracle that points its origin to God.
66)
What did the sign
do for Jesus’ mother?
o She was glad that the bridegroom did not have to bear the
long-lasting social embarrassment for running out of wine at his wedding.
o More importantly she was convinced
§
That the
long-running suspended reality about her son was about to be fulfilled.
§
And that she had
not borne the bad reputation of conceiving her son out of fornication in vain
for all those years.
67)
What lesson did
Jesus’ disciples learn from his mother, given verses 3 to 5?
o As disciples they must not tell Jesus what to do to
solve their problems.
o They should instead
§
Tell him about
their problems.
§
And wait for him to
tell them what to do to solve their problems.
68)
According to
verse 12 what happened next?
o Jesus went down to
§
His mother.
§
And brothers.
§
And his disciples.
o There they stayed for a few days.
69)
Why did Jesus decide
to perform the sign, given his accountability to his mother and his brand new disciples being there with him?
o It was legitimate for Jesus’ mother to know what her
son is really about after over thirty years of
faithfully and quietly doing God’s will concerning her son in her life.
o So he decided to honor his mother by
§
Fulfilling her
wish.
§
And performing
the sign.
o He did it also to make sure that his brand new disciples did not
lose their faith in him.
70)
How often did Jesus
run ahead of his Father in heaven?
o That is the only time in all eternity.
71)
Did Jesus go
against the will of his Father in heaven in performing the sign, given verse 11
and John 6:40?
o Jesus did the will of his Father in heaven in performing
the sign.
o Because
o His disciples believed in him as a result, culminating
in their receiving eternal life.
o Even though
o By doing so he would be running ahead of his Father.
· The facilitator asks a specific participant to read
out loud John 6:40 that says,
+++++++++++++++++++++
40For my Father’s
will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have
eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
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John 2:1-12
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